This randomized phase II trial is studying bevacizumab to see how well it works compared to cetuximab when given together with gemcitabine, capecitabine, and radiation therapy in treating patients with pancreatic cancer that has been completely removed by surgery. Monoclonal antibodies, such as bevacizumab and cetuximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Bevacizumab may also stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Cetuximab may also stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as gemcitabine and capecitabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving bevacizumab or cetuximab together with gemcitabine, capecitabine, and radiation therapy after surgery may kill any tumor cells that remain after surgery. It is not yet known whether bevacizumab is more effective than cetuximab when given together with gemcitabine, capecitabine, and radiation therapy in treating pancreatic cancer.

An Intergroup Randomized Phase II Study of Bevacizumab (NSC 704865) or Cetuximab (NSC 714692) in Combination With Gemcitabine and in Combination With Chemoradiation (Capecitabine and Radiation) in Patients With Completely-Resected Pancreatic Carcinoma

Patients receive cetuximab IV over 60-120 minutes on day 1, once weekly, in weeks 1-24; gemcitabine hydrochloride IV over 30 minutes on day 1, once weekly, in weeks 1-3, 13-15, 17-19, and 21-23; oral capecitabine twice daily on days 1-5, 5 days a week, in weeks 5-10. Patients also undergo radiotherapy once daily, 5 days a week, beginning in week 5 and continuing for approximately 5½ weeks (25 fractions).

I. To describe the toxicity profile of cetuximab and bevacizumab when combined with gemcitabine, before and after capecitabine plus radiation and during capecitabine plus radiation in patients with completely-resected pancreatic carcinoma in the adjuvant setting.

II. To assess the safety profile of either cetuximab or bevacizumab plus gemcitabine in patients with resected pancreatic cancer.

III. To obtain tissue specimens from resections of patients enrolled on study for correlative studies and further evaluations.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate disease-free and overall survival for patients receiving either cetuximab or bevacizumab in combination with gemcitabine before and after capecitabine plus radiation.

III. To correlate changes in serum amphiregulin and TGF alpha to survival, DFS and rash for patients receiving cetuximab.

IV. To determine the 2-year survival rate for patients receiving either cetuximab plus gemcitabine before and after capecitabine plus cetuximab plus radiation, or bevacizumab plus gemcitabine before and after capecitabine plus bevacizumab plus radiation.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to degree of prior resection of the pancreatic tumor (R0 vs R1). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

Arm I: Patients receive cetuximab IV over 60-120 minutes on day 1, once weekly, in weeks 1-24; gemcitabine hydrochloride IV over 30 minutes on day 1, once weekly, in weeks 1-3, 13-15, 17-19, and 21-23; oral capecitabine twice daily on days 1-5, 5 days a week, in weeks 5-10. Patients also undergo radiotherapy once daily, 5 days a week, beginning in week 5 and continuing for approximately 5½ weeks (25 fractions).

Patients must be > 4 weeks and =< 8 weeks post-surgery at time of study registration (may be up to 10 weeks post-surgery prior to start of study therapy)

Women of childbearing potential and sexually active males are strongly advised to use an accepted and effective method of contraception prior to study entry

Women must not be pregnant or breast-feeding; all agents used in this study as well as radiation therapy to the abdomen have the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects; all females of childbearing potential must have a blood test or urine study within 2 weeks prior to registration to rule out pregnancy

Patients must not be receiving any other investigational agents

Patients with known metastases are not eligible

Patients with a history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to cetuximab, bevacizumab or other agents used in the study are not eligible

Patients with wounds that have not fully healed are not eligible

Patients must not have cardiac arrhythmia

Patients must have no known HIV infection

Patients must not have any of the following: acinar cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma, cystadenocarcinoma, carcinosarcoma

Patients with psychiatric or addictive disorders or other conditions that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude them from meeting the study requirements are not eligible

Patients requiring full dose anticoagulation are not eligible

Patients with a history of transient ischemic attack (TIA) or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) are not eligible

Patients with a history of the following within twelve months of study entry are not eligible:

Arterial thrombembolic events

Unstable angina

Myocardial infarction

Contacts and Locations

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To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00305877